Sake Brewery and Japanese Life Experience Tour in Kobe

Inclusions / Exclusions

Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Private Tour
Tour Guide
The necessary expenses for the guide during the tour

Estimated Costs of the Tour: 530 JPY per Person
Breakdown: Transportation: 530 JPY, Admission Fees: 0 JPY, Meal costs: 0 JPY per Person
Optional Experience Costs: 0 JPY per Person

Overview

Sake breweries are scattered in the Nada area, where the area is known as one of the best sake breweries in Japan. Several breweries are open to the public, and they are popular with tourists because they offer tours of the production process and free tastings. Sake brewing in Nada has been active since the Edo period and now accounts for about 30% of Japan's total sake production. The location, climatic environment, quality of rice, and water are just perfect to brew sake in Nada. Those are essential for sake brewing, and the craftsmanship has been handed down from generation to generation with its techniques. This tour will not only introduce a sake brewery and tasting but will also introduce you to the food culture using sake, strolling through local shopping streets. By learning about the efforts of the people involved in sake brewing, as well as feeling the daily lives in the area, you will be able to understand the appeal of sake.

Meeting points

Sannomiya Station
４丁目-1-１番－１ Nunobikichō, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-0097, Japan

Open in Google Maps

JR Sannomiya Station central exit, in front of ticket office

End point

Kobe-Sannomiya Station
7 Chome-1 Onoedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-0088, Japan

Open in Google Maps

Kobe Sannomiya Station

Itinerary

Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum: This is a museum that was built in the early Taisho era. The museum displays the traditional sake brewing process and operations, and visitors can learn about the brewing process as well as see the historical architecture. You can also enjoy sake tasting.

40 minutes
Kobe Shu-shin-kan Breweries

Kobe Shushinkan: This is also a sake brewery that has been in business for 250 years, since the Edo period. The brewery produces Fukuju, which is drunk at Nobel Prize -dinners and is highly regarded both in Japan and abroad. Find your favorite flavor at the tasting corner and make it your souvenir.

40 minutes
Konan Muko no Sato

Kobe Konan Mukonosato: Specializing in pickles and Mirin (sweet cooking rice wine). Mirin is made from the same raw materials as sake and is an essential part of Japanese cuisine. By learning about the similarities and differences between sake and Mirin, you can learn more about Japanese food and sake.

30 minutes
Oyasutei Ichiba Shopping Street

Oyasutei Ichiba Shopping Street: With a history of over 100 years, the market is said to be "the oldest shopping street in Kobe. Today, there are long-established stores that have been around since the postwar period, as well as stores that sell not only Japanese and Asian foods, but also Halal foods. It is a deep shopping street with a mixture of Showa and multinational, giving it a retro Japanese atmosphere.

30 minutes

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All transportation costs, entrance fees, food and drink costs, etc. incurred at the visited spots, will be borne by the customer.
Under the age of 20 are not allowed to drink in Japan.
Tour finishing spot is different from starting spot. Please let your tour guide know if you would like to change the finishing spot.
Please understand that tour spots might be changed to alternative spots in case of temporary closure.
This tour does not include a dining spot.
If the weather is bad on the day, there is a possibility that the means of transportation, destinations, and routes may be changed.
Please wear comfortable clothing as you will be walking a lot.
Some of the spots we will visit on the day do not accept credit cards. Please remember to bring cash.
If you are unable to make it to the meeting point by the start time, there is a possibility that we might not be able to provide the full experience this tour has to offer, due to the time taken to get to the meeting point via public transport. Please ensure that you have ample time to get to the meeting point on time.

Free Cancellation

April 25100% refund

April 26No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.8

19 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

5 stars

15
4 stars

4
3 stars

0
2 stars

0
1 star

0

We perform checks on reviews

We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 15 reviews with 5 stars

A Memorable Sake Brewery and Cultural Tour in Kobe

Published on Oct, 2024

I had an incredible experience on the Sake Brewery and Japanese Life Experience Tour in Kobe, guided by the wonderful Tomoko-san. From start to finish, the tour was a delightful blend of culture, history, and culinary exploration. Tomoko-san's friendly demeanor and extensive knowledge about Japanese culture and history truly enriched the experience. She didn't just focus on the specific area we visited but shared fascinating insights about various aspects of Japanese life as we walked to and from the brewery. Her storytelling made the journey as interesting as the destination itself. As a foodie, I was thrilled that Tomoko-san introduced me to some fantastic food spots along the way. Each stop was thoughtfully chosen, allowing me to savor authentic local flavors that I might not have discovered on my own. While the tour is a bit pricey, the quality of the experience more than justifies the cost. I learned so much and tasted incredible food, all while being guided by someone as passionate and knowledgeable as Tomoko-san. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kobe who wants a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and a memorable culinary adventure.

Fantastic guide

Published on Sep, 2024

WOW! Our guide Tomoko was fantastic and couldn’t recommend highly enough. The sake tour in Kobe was an absolute delight. From the moment we stepped into the traditional sake brewery, I was captivated by the rich history and craftsmanship that went into every bottle. Our knowledgeable guide, a local expert, shared fascinating insights into the sake-making process, explaining the intricate techniques involved in producing this beloved Japanese beverage. We had the opportunity to taste a variety of sakes, each with its own unique flavor profile. Tomoko recommended the plum wine, it’s great!

Knowledge and helpful tour guide

Published on Aug, 2024

Kei was a fantastic guide, very accommodating when we arrived 15 minutes late, excellent at personalising the tour based on our preferences.

Kobe day

Published on Jun, 2024

Kiyoshi was really welcoming from the start as we had trouble with finding the meeting spot. Kiyoshi gave us a run down of the itinerary and we were off. We started with hopping on a train and some walking to the first sake Brewery. As we traveled to our first destination we learned about Kiyoshi's background and a little bit of his life. We first visited the top sake brewer in Japan. Kiyoshi was knowledgeable about Kobe's brewing and export of sake. At the end of visiting the Brewery we had our first sake tasting. Unfortunately, at the first Brewery we had to pay for the tasting. However, it was cheap and when will be the next time you are able to try premium sake in japan straight from the source? We then walked to the next sake Brewery and got to see areas of Kobe without hustle and bustle. Along the way Kiyoshi shared facts regarding Japan such as differences in customs between the Kansai region and the rest of the Japan. We shared with Kiyoshi differences in America. The second tasting was free. You have the option to get a larger amount if you pay and I believe you could keep the sake cup as a souvenir. After visiting the Breweries we headed to the Suidosoji Shotengai via subway. The Suidosoji Shotengai consisted if shops and restaurants. We popped into a tiny restaurant for some Okonomiaki. Kiyoshi translated what the chef was saying for us. Once finished we head back to the train station to say our goodbyes. Kiyoshi was a wonderful guide who was great to talk to. Be prepared for for a lot of walking and some subway hopping. Even though there is a lot of travel you get to see a beautiful city while learning a lot. Make sure you have an IC card for the convenience of transportation. Also, wear sunscreen, bring a hat or an umbrella.

Great tour of Osaka

Published on Jun, 2023

Masato did an excellent job. He was prepared and flexible. We went all over Osaka and saw all the major sites, temples, shrines and neighborhoods. We also ate very well!